Oscars meet opera in Summit County

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Soprano Jennifer DeDominici and tenor Daniel Fosha, who starred in the National Repertory Orchestra's "Broadway and Beyond" concerts the last two years, take center stage Saturday at the Silverthorne Pavilion for "Night Before the Oscars," an evening of Oscar-winning music presented by the NRO. The repertoire runs the gamut from the Oscars' early years to the present. "There will be crooning solos, rocking duets and everything in between," said DeDominici, who looks forward to performing "Moon River." "So many famous male crooners have sung it over the years that I had forgotten that in the movie it is actually sung by a woman," she said. "When we realized that the movie version (the one that won the Oscar) was sung by Audrey Hepburn, I quickly took the song for myself to perform." DeDominici is an American lyric mezzo-soprano who has been amassing top reviews for her work on stages throughout the region. The Westword called her voice "fluid and gleaming as a deep, running stream at night" for her portrayal of Signora Fioria in the Arvada Center's production of "Do I Hear a Waltz?" Fosha, who has entertained audiences nationwide, is known for his versatility from musical theater and opera to the classical repertory. Past roles range from Marius in "Les Miserables" and George Bailey in "A Wonderful Life" to Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" and tenor spotlight in Bach's "St. Matthew Passion" and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.On Saturday, the pair will perform duets for "Falling Slowly" and "Up Where We Belong." Other pieces include songs from "The Wizard of Oz," "Top Gun," "Dirty Dancing" and "A Star Is Born." "Dan and I are both classically trained, which has taught us flexibility and healthy singing - both of which are essential when doing a concert that includes such a huge variety of styles of singing," DeDominici said, admitting that the two are charting new territory with some of the pop and rock numbers. "Both Dan and I were surprised at how much fun we're having learning and preparing these duets that are often in a style we don't sing on a regular basis," she said."We are delighted that Jennifer and Daniel will once again combine their outstanding talents for this fundraiser for the National Repertory Orchestra," NRO spokesperson Julie Chandler said. "They are compelling, beautifully focused and expressive singers. Jennifer and Daniel provide moving performances, and the audience will revel in the richness of their voices."Pianist Deborah Schmit-Lobis - a composer, arranger and recording artist who has performed with several major Colorado arts organizations - will accompany the pair. "This show is going to be a bit of a spin-off of an actual Oscars award show," DeDominici said. "We are only singing pieces that actually won the Oscar at some point in history. We will announce categories of songs with a list of nominees followed by a set of music."The evening also features a contest for the best Oscar attire and the chance to win prizes for guessing Sunday's Oscar winners. Free coffee and dessert will be served at intermission. The evening is sponsored by the town of Silverthorne, Maryland Creek Ranch, Everist Materials, Hyman Foundation, Schmitt Music and the Summit Daily News.